Monday, July 1, 2013

Loo-Ren, Santa Cruz a Run and a...MiniVan?! What!!

This last week our most favoritest person in all the land came all across the US just to visit us! Yep. Lauren came into town and it was a blast! Her flight was delayed on the way over, so that screwed up a few of her plans, but all in all I think she had a great time. We even got to steal quite a bit of her time, so thats always a plus!

Her and I went out for a 'grown up' dinner and it is always a good time catching up and sharing new things in eachothers lives. We also decided on a tattoo to get. Unless of course by the time that 'time comes' we have changed our minds again. I am not telling soooo don't even bother asking! You will just have to wait for pics! I know. I am soo mean. The girls were able to go and decorate some pottery pieces at a place in town and that was a blast for the girls. Mostly because we had no idea that there was even a place like that in Napa anymore. Then as if that wasn't enough they even went to ice cream. This was an all girls day, so Rian had to stay at daycare, but don't worry he didn't care...but mostly because he had no idea! Oops. Guess those are the things we still get away with while he is young!


Friday we made a whole day of it! We got up early(ish) and headed out to Santa Cruz, after of course pickin' up donuts and such from ButterCream Bakery! YUM!! Yep. We drove all the way there, ate fried food, rode plenty of rides and even played in the ocean. It was quite honestly one of the best days I have had in a long time! Weather was great, company was awesome and for the most part the kids were pretty well behaved. That my friends is a great day if I ever heard of one. The fave ride of all was the log ride, but they even got me to go on the little gondola ride. I hate heights so this was a stretch, but hey, anything for the kids! I have never been, nor had the kids so this was really quite an awesome experience. I will gladly take them all back again for a whole day. Next time we probably wont get unlimited ride bracelets but who knows!













Saturday we had to say goodbye to Lauren and that was soo sad. Rian cried, Carina got misty eyed and well..Neya slept. Yep. All the way home. Some things just don't quite phase her the same as everyone else. Haha. On the way home we stopped in San Francisco and had to pick up a race packet for the next day. I had a quarter marathon to run.

This was hands down one of the best runs I have completed in a LONG time...if not EVER! I have been running pretty regulary, 3-5 days a week and my times have been pretty consistent 9:30 or 10:20 minute miles. I hadn't however, run a full 6.55 miles and so I was a little bit nervous I would walk at some point. But I didn't! I killed my best time during mile 3 (ran an 8:50 minute mile) but ended with a solid average of 9:22 which made for 6.55 miles ran in 61 minutes. Wow. I never would have thought. I know that some people can run and run and run and 9.22 minute miles seems fast but this time about 6 months ago I was averaging an 11:20 minute mile so this is a great improvement. I couldn't have been more proud, I even stayed with the pacer who does this professionally. Honestly, even better than my time, was the fact that my family was there cheering me on the whole time. This was a personal best for me and I couldn't get off that natural high! That's it people. I may be slowly turning into a runner. Who knows.














On a slightly more awesome note that deserves a mention is that I will be running in the Nike Womens (half) Marathon in San Francisco in October. This is AMAZING! It is typically by invitation only and then once all invites have been taken up they offer a random drawing but you have to get selected and you can't just 'buy' your way in. I was selected and I will be running the half. I dont know if its truly random, if they have criteria they look for or whatever but this is an honor. I will be running for such an amazing cause and I couldn't be more excited. Now if I can just double my quarter marathon time and finish my run in no more than 2 hours and 15 minutes I will have improved my original half marathon run time from 2008 by 1.25 hours! That is my goal and hopefully I meet it! Let the training begin!!!


Okay and of course, last but not least. Here is some (not-so) awesome news. We now own a minivan. Yes. You read it right folks. This family is now 'one of those families'. I wish I could say I am totally happy but of course, with the minivan comes the title 'soccer mom' and as much as I love my kids, I am anything but. However, I am looking forward to more space, better gas mileage than our escape and really our friends needed to get rid of a car, we wanted a new car and so it just worked out. Its got a few bumps and bruises that we will get all fixed up but for the most part its actually pretty nice. Hell has not froze over, but it may be getting close ;)



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